Outfielder Dominic Fletcher is back with the Pirates on a minor league agreement, per his MLB.com transactions tracker. Fletcher was released in early July. He was in the lineup for Triple-A Indianapolis on Friday.
Fletcher exercised an opt-out in his contract on July 1, reported Robert Murray of FanSided. Pittsburgh declined to add the veteran outfielder to the roster and released him. After about two weeks on the market, Fletcher returned to the organization.
The 28-year-old Fletcher played a dozen games with the White Sox last season. He hit .219 with a home run and a steal in 34 plate appearances. Fletcher played all three outfield spots in his brief time with Chicago. He spent most of the year at Triple-A and settled for another minor league deal heading into 2026.
Fletcher is having a big season with Indianapolis. He’s slashed .288/.379/.511 through 42 games heading into Saturday. The outfielder has popped eight home runs and stolen two bases. Fletcher has mostly played center field, but he’s had plenty of reps in the corners as well.
While he’s struggled to hit as a big leaguer (67 wRC+ in 377 PAs), Fletcher has shown the ability to contribute with the glove. He’s posted 13 Defensive Runs Saved in 872 2/3 career innings on the grass. The majority of that production has come in right field. Pittsburgh could use some defensive help in center field given the struggles of injured star Oneil Cruz, but other than that, they’re pretty set in the outfield. The club ranks in the top 10 in OPS at all three spots.
Photo courtesy of Nathan Ray Seebeck, Imagn Images
Some good news to help soften tonight’s loss.
better news would be releasing Santana and replacing him with Dotel
Another blown save and not so pretty loss
I blame last nights loss on Kelly. He starts Montgomery for 1 inning. Then when you could of used him into the late innings, you don’t have him. Instead you I se Santana. They just had 5 days off. So you have a double header. Could of called someone up to pitch. These games are more meaningful now as we approach the end. Kelly cannot continue to make these moronic decisions. Just like giving low a day off today. Yea yea tough lefty pitching.
They did call up Khristian Curtis to pitch 5 innings.
They should have started him. Instead of letting Montgomery pitch 1 inning. Montgomery could have closed out the win. They j7st wasted him.
Coulda,woulda, shoulda. It’s easier to “know” that after finding out Curtis would go 5 scoreless in his debut.
Nick..it’s still a dumb move to waste a capable reliever. Especially with thr current bullpen problems
J-Unfortunately again,Kelly basically blew that game.Why would you start and have him pitch one inning?
Why would you pitch Mattson in a blowout game?
Why wouldn’t you save your best relievers for close games?
And why do knuckleheads like you and Paul and me know this but Kelly does not?
And why in the world does Cherington keep Santana?He has been toast for two months.Heck keep Curtis up if he is any where near like he was yesterday?And bring up Stratton otherwise.
Nutting had to evidently be the one to fire Shelton last year.
Even Shelton would know that Santana is toast.
This stuff boggles my mind.
It is Baseball 101.
I couldn’t have said it any better my friend. Again kelly I s a dismal decision maker. It baffles the mind the rationale he uses for his decisions.
That HAS to be the end of the line for Santana. He sucks and is killing them. It would be a crime for Cherington to not address this absolutely glaring need for a late inning arm or two. Jared Jones is even coming around and looking like the number 3 starter.
Hole-Santana has been toast for two months.
Cherington must be too stupid to realize that.
Nutting had to be the one to fire Shelton last year.
That tells you all that you want to know about Cherington.
Mathematicians know that a negative of a negative is a plus.
Cherington flunked math.
He has assembled a good team other than the bullpen.
Unfortunately bullpen use is clearly Kelly’s worst skill.
The Pirates don’t need defensive help in CF as they have Mangum who is good defensively. This writer is apparently not very familiar with the team.
The first time that I have seen Charlie Wright as a byline.
Send two of our top five prospects not named Hernandez along with a lower prospect to the Mets for Luke Weaver and A. J. Minter.
While I don’t know what teams are offering and asking for at this point, that still feels like too much. They do match up well with the Mets who have 4-5 arms at least they can trade. I like Brazoban as an 8th inning guy.
I would offer that for Weaver and Holmes. If he comes back healthy, would be a nice 3-4 starter for sure.
Bill-You are talking Password and Barco or Gray for two free agents to be.
I would offer two or three decent to good lower level prospects plus Nick Yorke and Eisert.
Weaver has another year of control, and yes password and Gray, I doubt if Yorke or Eisert would be wanted.